VOA慢速英语2021--Get What You Want... With Honey!

And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning¹ English.

There are many ways to get people to do what you want.

You can boss them around. "Do this!" "Do that!" You can also threaten them. "You had better do what I say or else ..."

But these methods might not get the best results and you probably will lose a few friends.

Perhaps being nice to other people is the best and easiest way to get what you want. In fact, we have a saying that describes this way of thinking.

You get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

We should first thank bees for making something as sweet and tasty as honey.

Vinegar can be tasty too. But on its own, it is sour and has a bitter taste. When you mix vinegar with other things, such as oil, it can taste much better. But on its own, vinegar is hard to swallow.

So, the expression "you get more flies with honey than with vinegar" means it is a good idea to be nice to others. You can win over people more easily by being polite and kind.

Being mean or unpleasant is like being full of vinegar. You will push more people away by acting² sour or bitter. Nice, polite requests often work better. And in the end, you actually get what you want.

Like many English expressions, you do not need to say the full sentence. Simply saying, "you get more flies with honey" is good enough.

Now, let's hear how to use this idiom in a dialogue.

A: We are way behind on painting this house. If the volunteers don't speed up, we will be painting in the dark!

B: Correction. They will be painting in the dark. I will be at home watching television.

A: Be nice. After all, the volunteers aren't getting paid.

B: Well, that is the definition³ of a volunteer. But you're right. They should work faster. I'll yell⁴ at them some more.

A: Wait. You have been yelling⁵ at them?!

B: Well, yeah.

A: I put you in charge of the volunteers and you've been shouting at them!?! Have you lost your mind?!

B: Who's the one yelling now. Anyway ... it's the only way to get them to work hard.

A: No! No, it's not! You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

B: Well, that may be true. But yelling works⁶ too.

A: Not on my project! Now go apologize. And help them paint! And do not be rude or mean.

B: Okay. Okay. Calm down. You don't have to yell or call me names. Didn't you ever hear you catch more flies with ...

A: Don't you even finish that sentence.

And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories. But join us again next week when we will explore another idiom or expression in American English.

Words in This Story

boss – v. to give orders to

sour – adj. having an acid⁷ taste that is like the taste of a lemon

polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people

dialogue – n. a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing⁸

yell – v. to utter⁹ a loud cry, scream, or shout

sentence – n. a group of words that expresses a statement, question, command, or wish

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 definition   

n.定义；限定，确定；清晰度

参考例句：

• The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
• I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。

4 yell   

vi./n.号叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• This gave them a chance to yell.这给了他们大声喊叫的机会。
• When his schoolmate made the last goal,the boy gave out with an untrammeled yell.那个男孩在他的同学踢进最后一球时不禁纵声欢呼。

5 yelling   

v.叫喊，号叫，叫着说( yell的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The coach stood on the sidelines yelling instructions to the players. 教练站在场外，大声指挥运动员。
• He let off steam by yelling at a clerk. 他对一个职员大喊大叫，借以发泄怒气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

7 acid   

n.酸；酸性物质；adj.酸的，酸性的

参考例句：

• Handle with care,or the acid may get out.小心轻放，否则酸会溢出来。
• The acid has been eating away the sides of the container.酸腐蚀着容器的四壁。

8 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 utter   

vt.发出(声音)，说；adj.完全的，绝对的

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word.他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• I was at an utter loss what to do.我完全不知道该怎样做才好。